The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-01-21
A HAsTY DECISION.

one was ucau, an Olu woman. with
silvery hair brushed smoothly away
from her wrinkled forehead and snowy
cap tied under her chin; sad, quiet
face; q patient mouth. with lines about
it that told of sorrow borne with gentle
iirmness; and two withercd. tired
hands, crossed with restful look.
That was all.
Who, looking at the sleeping form.
would think of love and romance, of Il
heart only just healed Of q wound re-
ceivcd long, long ago?
J Fifty years she had lived under that
-roof-a farmers wife. If you looked on
tho little plato on her cofiin-lid you
would sec aged 40" there; and she
was only 20 when John Phillips brought
her home, n bride.
! A half century she had kept her care
Yul watch over tho dairy and larder,
End made butter and cheese, and
looked after the innumerable duties
that fall to the share of farmers wife.
Aud John had never gone with button
less shirts or undarncd socks; had not
come home to an untidy house and
scoiding wife. His trim, tidy Martha
had been his pride; and though not n
,lcmonstrative husband, he had boastcd
sometimes of the model housewife that
kept his home in order.
But underneath her quiet exterior
there was story that John never
dreamed OF. and would hardly have be-
lieycd possible had he been told. She
did not marry for love. When she was
10, rosy, happy girl. stranger came
on n visit to their little village. and that
summer was the brightest and happiest
She ever knew. Paul Gardner was the
strangers name; he was an artist, and
fell in love with the simple village girl,
and won her heart; and, when he went
away in the autumn, they were be-
trothed.
I'll come again in the spring" he
said. Trust me. and wait for me,
Matte. dear"
She promised TO love and wait for
him till the end of time, if need be,
and with kiss on her quivering lips
he went away.
Matte Gray did not tell her father
and mother of her love, for they had no
liking for city folks and had treated
Paul none too Hospitality when he ven
tured inside their house.
Spring-timc came. and, true to his
word, Paul returned; he staid only a
day OF two this time.
II am going away in few weeks to
Italy to study" he said. Il shall be
gone two years. aud then l shall claim
you for my BRIDE
They renewed their vows, and parted
with tears and tender, loving words;
he put a tiny ring On her, finger and
cut little curly trcss from her brown
hair; and, telling her TO be always true
and wait for him. he went away.
The months went by, and Matte was
trying to make the time seem short by
studying to improve herself, so that she
might be worthy Of her lover when he
should return to make her his wife
cit must be about the time he is to
start" she said to herself one day.
And by-and-by, rs she glanced over
n newspaper, her eye was attracted by
his name, and with white lips and di-
lated eyes she read of his marriage ia
another
married! Taken another bride in
stead of coming back to marry me! O.
Paul. PAUL. loved and trusted you for
this!,'
She covered her face with her hands
and wept bitterly.
An hour afterward US she sat there in
the twilight with the fatal newspaper
lying on her lap, she heard a step on
the gravel walk; and, looking up, she
saw John Phillips coming up the steps.
He had been to see her often before, but
he had never yet spoken of love and
ltad, OF course, received no encourage.
mcnt to do SO. He was plain, hard
working farmer, with no romance about
him, but mattcr-of-fact to the core. His
wife would get few caresses or tender
words He would be kind enough
would give her plenty to eat and wear.
Now he seemed to have come for the
express purpose OF asking her to be
his wife; for he took chair, and, scat
ing himself beside her, after the usual
greeting, rescrving scarcely moment
to take breath, began, In his business.
like way, to converse. There was no
confession of love, no pleading, NC
hand-clasping, no tender Chances; Inc
simply wanted her; would she be his
wifcp His manner was hearty enough;
there was no doubt he really wanted
her-would rather marry her than any
other woman he knew; but that was
: all. f tntl .ails
Her lips moved TO tell him that she
did not love him; but rs she lot lieI
eyes fail upon the crimson- hearted
rose that swung from the vine over the
window, she caught sight Of those few
lines sgain.